First England... now the world! Champion Toure sets sights on building City dynasty
PUBLISHED: 04:21 EST, 14 May 2012 | UPDATED: 09:34 EST, 14 May 2012
Manchester City talisman Yaya Toure believes his side can dominate world football after their stunning Premier League title triumph. Toure was one of the inspirations behind City’s first title win in 44 years but he was off the field injured as the crown was secured in dramatic circumstances against QPR on Sunday. Many believe City can now build on their success and go on to become the new powerhouses of the English game and Toure has no doubts.
Champions! Manchester City celebrate their stunning Premier League title triumph at the Etihad Stadium
The Ivory coast midfielder told City TV: 'We have been unbelievable. 'I thank all but I think next year will be more and I hope City will become a great club in the world. 'I will think about the new season and I hope it will be more exciting than the last one. 'I think the fans may enjoy it more because now we have fantastic players, they are growing. 'They have fantastic talent and I think next year we will get more cups than this year.'
Magic moment: Sergio Aguero scores the winner
Toure limped off just before half-time in the decisive game and could only watch as City fell 2-1 behind before coming back to win 3-2 in injury time. The 29-year-old said: 'It was unbelievable. When we had 10 minutes left I was thinking we needed a goal to try to help us. 'With all this season, always doing well, to have lost the Premier League at home - it would have been a disaster, I think I can say that. 'I am very happy. I think the team deserves it, the fans deserve it, the boss deserves it. I think all this club deserves it this year. 'That was the character of the team, the winning mentality. The team did fantastically well.
Early departure: Yaya Toure (left) had to leave the field injured as City mounted a stunning comeback
Fan-tastic: The City faithful celebrate their first title in 44 years
'We proved all the players on the pitch wanted to fight for this club, to win something for this club, to be part of history for this club.' With Manchester United winning at Sunderland, the title was heading back to Old Trafford as injury time approached with City still trailing. Edin Dzeko gave City hope with an equaliser in the second minute of stoppage time before top scorer Sergio Aguero snatched it in the last attack of the game. Aguero, who finished his first season with City with 30 goals, said: 'The only thing I can say is I am really happy.
'The truth is we can hardly believe it ourselves.
Blue moon: City's players celebrate at the final whistle
'We thought the Premier League had gone. Thank God it all worked out for us. 'We got two goals in five minutes, it was absolutely unbelievable.' Two of the more controversial figures in City’s season were also thrilled by the outcome. Carlos Tevez, who infamously missed six months of the campaign over a dispute with the club, said: 'I am very, very happy. The game was out of this world. 'When you are putting an end to such a long run without winning a title, you are always going to have to do it the hard way.
Champions: Mancini's squad revel in the glory
'It was absolutely incredible. This club have got the players that can win lots of trophies, this is a real big step towards that.' After returning to the side in the past two months, Tevez recently said he would like to stay at the club despite his attempts in January to engineer a move. The striker said: 'Let’s hope we can win more and more trophies. I feel very happy at winning this league title.' Mario Balotelli made his first appearance in six games as he came off the bench with 14 minutes remaining and had a hand in the winner. The Italian said: 'It was better to win like that than 6-0, when you are sure to win.
Pandemonium: Fans invade the pitch at the final whistle
'United have suffered a little bit, it is better for us. 'When I was on the bench, warming up with Micah (Richards) and they scored their second goal, Micah was upset but I said, "Don’t worry, we will win". 'That’s what we did. I thought it was really possible. I believed in it and I was right.' Playmaker David Silva is also hoping the team can move on to greater things next season. The Spaniard said: 'We made the game very hard for ourselves but we kept battling until the end.
'We managed to pull it off and I am really happy. This team is just getting better and better and let’s hope next season we’ll be even better.'
Double joy: QPR celebrate their escape from relegation
Meanwhile, City midfielder Gareth Barry saw a helicopter flying over the Etihad stadium as his side trailed 2-1 to QPR and thought it was the Premier League trophy being flown to rivals Manchester United. Barry was convinced the trophy was being transported up to Wearside where United were winning 1-0.
He was replaced by Edin Dzeko 21 minutes from the end of yesterday’s final game against QPR, with the Blues losing 2-1.
But in stoppage time Dzeko and then Sergio Aguero netted to turn the entire campaign on its head and end City’s 44-year wait for a league title. 'At 2-1 down I was thinking this is done,' Barry said.
Oh, brother: City fans turn the Etihad blue
'I looked up and saw a helicopter and wondered if it was the main trophy being flown north. 'Towards the end, I was sitting there watching our fans leaving, just thinking "Here we go again". 'In a way, it makes it more special but I would have preferred an easier win.' The scenes at the end will never be forgotten though, with Barry amongst those racing off the bench in jubilation as Aguero was smothered by ecstatic team-mates. 'Those last five minutes were incredible,' said Barry.
'I can’t really find the words to describe what happened.
'The way it finished was unbelievable. This season has been so up and down that it was no surprise that the final finish went that way. 'But I don’t think that will ever be beaten.'
The agony for Barry was made all the more acute because he was a just as helpless as the fans who had spent more of the afternoon chewing their fingernails, desperate for their team to deliver the prize that had eluded them for so long. Yet, out of the 90 minutes, City spent 61 of them trailing Manchester United in the "as it stands" table, which just made the day even more memorable for Barry. 'I will remember it well because I had to sit and watch, and that is probably worse,' said the England midfielder. 'You would rather be on the pitch. It’s far more nervous to watch because you cannot affect it.
'But I have soaked it all in, because you have to enjoy moments like this - it’s been fantastic so far.'
Party time: Manchester City celebrate their stunning title triumph at the Etihad Stadium City boss Roberto Mancini meanwhile wants to build on title glory with a strong challenge in the Champions League next season.
He told talkSPORT: 'We need to improve. The Champions League is a very difficult competition, you need to be lucky and in good form in February, but I think we can do well next year.'
'I think Manchester City now is in a good way. It is not easy because we have to fight every year against top teams like United, Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham - but we have worked well in the last two years and if we continue to work like this we can have a big future.
'I am very happy because in England it is the best championship in Europe. The Premier League is a fantastic league and I am very happy to be here.'
City struck twice in injury time against 10-man QPR at the Etihad Stadium to snatch back a league crown Manchester United, who were second at the start of the final day, looked to have taken.
It completed not only a great fightback on the day but a great recovery in the whole campaign.
City, who led by five points after a blistering start to the season, trailed United by eight points with six games remaining.
Mancini's assistant David Platt believes retaining that title should be the very minimum aim next term.
Platt said: 'In my first year [at the club] the objective was to qualify for the Champions League and win a trophy. We did that by winning the FA Cup.
Pure delight: Mancini (left) celebrates with his coaching staff after City's title triumph
'This season it was to win the league and get to the quarter-finals of the Champions League, which we failed to do. But we won the title. 'Next year's aim will be to win the title again. That's the minimum. That's the objective we have to have, and quite rightly so.' After the celebrations, City will turn their attention to how they could strengthen the squad for next season. Platt said: 'We've been speaking for a couple of months about potential targets. 'No matter what the result on Sunday, that would not have got in the way of common business sense. "The owners are here for the long term and this is about improving every year. 'Whether we'd finished first or second, the same project would be in place. We've identified where we need to strengthen but a lot will depend on who's available. 'To buy players who will improve us as a team means you're choosing from a very select band.'
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/foo...#ixzz1urFEaGmA
PUBLISHED: 04:21 EST, 14 May 2012 | UPDATED: 09:34 EST, 14 May 2012
Manchester City talisman Yaya Toure believes his side can dominate world football after their stunning Premier League title triumph. Toure was one of the inspirations behind City’s first title win in 44 years but he was off the field injured as the crown was secured in dramatic circumstances against QPR on Sunday. Many believe City can now build on their success and go on to become the new powerhouses of the English game and Toure has no doubts.
Champions! Manchester City celebrate their stunning Premier League title triumph at the Etihad Stadium
The Ivory coast midfielder told City TV: 'We have been unbelievable. 'I thank all but I think next year will be more and I hope City will become a great club in the world. 'I will think about the new season and I hope it will be more exciting than the last one. 'I think the fans may enjoy it more because now we have fantastic players, they are growing. 'They have fantastic talent and I think next year we will get more cups than this year.'
Magic moment: Sergio Aguero scores the winner
Toure limped off just before half-time in the decisive game and could only watch as City fell 2-1 behind before coming back to win 3-2 in injury time. The 29-year-old said: 'It was unbelievable. When we had 10 minutes left I was thinking we needed a goal to try to help us. 'With all this season, always doing well, to have lost the Premier League at home - it would have been a disaster, I think I can say that. 'I am very happy. I think the team deserves it, the fans deserve it, the boss deserves it. I think all this club deserves it this year. 'That was the character of the team, the winning mentality. The team did fantastically well.
Early departure: Yaya Toure (left) had to leave the field injured as City mounted a stunning comeback
Fan-tastic: The City faithful celebrate their first title in 44 years
'We proved all the players on the pitch wanted to fight for this club, to win something for this club, to be part of history for this club.' With Manchester United winning at Sunderland, the title was heading back to Old Trafford as injury time approached with City still trailing. Edin Dzeko gave City hope with an equaliser in the second minute of stoppage time before top scorer Sergio Aguero snatched it in the last attack of the game. Aguero, who finished his first season with City with 30 goals, said: 'The only thing I can say is I am really happy.
'The truth is we can hardly believe it ourselves.
Blue moon: City's players celebrate at the final whistle
'We thought the Premier League had gone. Thank God it all worked out for us. 'We got two goals in five minutes, it was absolutely unbelievable.' Two of the more controversial figures in City’s season were also thrilled by the outcome. Carlos Tevez, who infamously missed six months of the campaign over a dispute with the club, said: 'I am very, very happy. The game was out of this world. 'When you are putting an end to such a long run without winning a title, you are always going to have to do it the hard way.
Champions: Mancini's squad revel in the glory
'It was absolutely incredible. This club have got the players that can win lots of trophies, this is a real big step towards that.' After returning to the side in the past two months, Tevez recently said he would like to stay at the club despite his attempts in January to engineer a move. The striker said: 'Let’s hope we can win more and more trophies. I feel very happy at winning this league title.' Mario Balotelli made his first appearance in six games as he came off the bench with 14 minutes remaining and had a hand in the winner. The Italian said: 'It was better to win like that than 6-0, when you are sure to win.
Pandemonium: Fans invade the pitch at the final whistle
'United have suffered a little bit, it is better for us. 'When I was on the bench, warming up with Micah (Richards) and they scored their second goal, Micah was upset but I said, "Don’t worry, we will win". 'That’s what we did. I thought it was really possible. I believed in it and I was right.' Playmaker David Silva is also hoping the team can move on to greater things next season. The Spaniard said: 'We made the game very hard for ourselves but we kept battling until the end.
'We managed to pull it off and I am really happy. This team is just getting better and better and let’s hope next season we’ll be even better.'
Double joy: QPR celebrate their escape from relegation
Meanwhile, City midfielder Gareth Barry saw a helicopter flying over the Etihad stadium as his side trailed 2-1 to QPR and thought it was the Premier League trophy being flown to rivals Manchester United. Barry was convinced the trophy was being transported up to Wearside where United were winning 1-0.
He was replaced by Edin Dzeko 21 minutes from the end of yesterday’s final game against QPR, with the Blues losing 2-1.
But in stoppage time Dzeko and then Sergio Aguero netted to turn the entire campaign on its head and end City’s 44-year wait for a league title. 'At 2-1 down I was thinking this is done,' Barry said.
Oh, brother: City fans turn the Etihad blue
'I looked up and saw a helicopter and wondered if it was the main trophy being flown north. 'Towards the end, I was sitting there watching our fans leaving, just thinking "Here we go again". 'In a way, it makes it more special but I would have preferred an easier win.' The scenes at the end will never be forgotten though, with Barry amongst those racing off the bench in jubilation as Aguero was smothered by ecstatic team-mates. 'Those last five minutes were incredible,' said Barry.
'I can’t really find the words to describe what happened.
'The way it finished was unbelievable. This season has been so up and down that it was no surprise that the final finish went that way. 'But I don’t think that will ever be beaten.'
The agony for Barry was made all the more acute because he was a just as helpless as the fans who had spent more of the afternoon chewing their fingernails, desperate for their team to deliver the prize that had eluded them for so long. Yet, out of the 90 minutes, City spent 61 of them trailing Manchester United in the "as it stands" table, which just made the day even more memorable for Barry. 'I will remember it well because I had to sit and watch, and that is probably worse,' said the England midfielder. 'You would rather be on the pitch. It’s far more nervous to watch because you cannot affect it.
'But I have soaked it all in, because you have to enjoy moments like this - it’s been fantastic so far.'
Party time: Manchester City celebrate their stunning title triumph at the Etihad Stadium City boss Roberto Mancini meanwhile wants to build on title glory with a strong challenge in the Champions League next season.
He told talkSPORT: 'We need to improve. The Champions League is a very difficult competition, you need to be lucky and in good form in February, but I think we can do well next year.'
'I think Manchester City now is in a good way. It is not easy because we have to fight every year against top teams like United, Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham - but we have worked well in the last two years and if we continue to work like this we can have a big future.
'I am very happy because in England it is the best championship in Europe. The Premier League is a fantastic league and I am very happy to be here.'
City struck twice in injury time against 10-man QPR at the Etihad Stadium to snatch back a league crown Manchester United, who were second at the start of the final day, looked to have taken.
It completed not only a great fightback on the day but a great recovery in the whole campaign.
City, who led by five points after a blistering start to the season, trailed United by eight points with six games remaining.
Mancini's assistant David Platt believes retaining that title should be the very minimum aim next term.
Platt said: 'In my first year [at the club] the objective was to qualify for the Champions League and win a trophy. We did that by winning the FA Cup.
Pure delight: Mancini (left) celebrates with his coaching staff after City's title triumph
'This season it was to win the league and get to the quarter-finals of the Champions League, which we failed to do. But we won the title. 'Next year's aim will be to win the title again. That's the minimum. That's the objective we have to have, and quite rightly so.' After the celebrations, City will turn their attention to how they could strengthen the squad for next season. Platt said: 'We've been speaking for a couple of months about potential targets. 'No matter what the result on Sunday, that would not have got in the way of common business sense. "The owners are here for the long term and this is about improving every year. 'Whether we'd finished first or second, the same project would be in place. We've identified where we need to strengthen but a lot will depend on who's available. 'To buy players who will improve us as a team means you're choosing from a very select band.'
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/foo...#ixzz1urFEaGmA
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